U.S. patent number 6,976,319 [Application Number 10/950,513] was granted by the patent office on 2005-12-20 for footwear construction.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Phoenix Footwear Group, Inc.. Invention is credited to Wilhelm F. Pfander.
United States Patent |
6,976,319 |
Pfander |
December 20, 2005 |
Footwear construction
Abstract
A footwear construction comprising a flexible and resilient
outsole having a front portion with a plurality of depending moguls
on the bottom surface thereof. A midsole is positioned over the
outsole and has a front portion with a plurality of spaced holes
therethrough which are substantially vertically aligned with some
or all of the moguls to enable air flow through the midsole when
the moguls are deformed by the weight and walking action of the
wearer. A footbed is positioned over the midsole and comprises a
soft flexible and resilient body member having a plurality of
spaced, raised cushioning elements on the upper surface thereof.
The footbed has a front portion with a plurality of spaced
apertures therethrough which are substantially vertically aligned
with some or all of the holes in the midsole to enable air flow
through the body member. An upper extends over the footbed and
midsole, and is secured to the outsole.
Inventors: |
Pfander; Wilhelm F. (Brewer,
ME) |
Assignee: |
Phoenix Footwear Group, Inc.
(Old Town, ME)
|
Family
ID: |
33416488 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/950,513 |
Filed: |
September 28, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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431637 |
May 5, 2003 |
6857202 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/3R; 36/3B;
36/30R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B
1/0009 (20130101); A43B 7/08 (20130101); A43B
13/122 (20130101); A43B 13/125 (20130101); A43B
13/181 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A43B 013/38 () |
Field of
Search: |
;36/3R,3B,25R,30R,28,29,141 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Patterson; M. D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Parent Case Text
This application is a Continuation of application Ser No.
10/431,637 filed May 5, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,202 the
entire content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference
to this application.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A footwear construction, comprising: a flexible and resilient
outsole having a front portion with a plurality of depending moguls
on the bottom surface thereof; a midsole positioned over said
outsole and having a front portion with a plurality of spaced holes
therethrough, said spaced holes being substantially vertically
aligned with some or all of said moguls to enable air flow through
said midsole when said moguls are deformed by the weight and
walking action of the wearer; a footbed positioned over said
midsole and comprising a flexible and resilient body member having
a plurality of spaced, raised cushioning elements on the upper
surface thereof, said footbed having a front portion with a
plurality of spaced apertures therethrough, said spaced apertures
being substantially vertically aligned with some or all of said
midsole holes to enable air flow through said body member; and an
upper extending over said footbed and midsole, said upper being
secured to said outsole; said footbed further comprises a flexible
cover member surrounding said body member and conforming
substantially to the shape thereof, said cover member having a
front portion with a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough
that are substantially vertically aligned with the spaced apertures
in said body member, said body member having a thickness of
approximately 6 millimeters and said raised cushioning elements
have a height of approximately 6 millimeters above the upper
surface thereof.
2. The footwear construction of claim 1 wherein said midsole has a
rear portion that is reinforced for additional support.
3. The footwear construction of claim 2 wherein said rear portion
of said midsole is reinforced by an elongated shank of a rigid
material mounted therein.
4. The footwear construction of claim 3 wherein said shank extends
forwardly to a point just rearwardly of the ball of the foot of the
wearer.
5. The footwear construction of claim 1 wherein said outsole has a
rear portion with a plurality of depending moguls on the bottom
surface thereof.
6. The footwear construction of claim 1 wherein said body member is
formed of a polyurethane foam.
7. The footwear construction of claim 1 wherein said cushioning
elements are substantially uniformly spaced on the upper surface of
said body member at a spacing of approximately 10-30
millimeters.
8. The footwear construction of claim 1 wherein said raised
cushioning elements are generally curved in shape.
9. The footwear construction of claim 1 wherein said mogul are
generally curved in shape.
10. The footwear construction of claim 9 wherein said moguls are
substantially uniformly spaced on the front portion of said outsole
and are approximately from 4 to 12 millimeters in depth from the
bottom surface of said outsole.
11. The footwear construction of claim 10 wherein said moguls are
approximately from 15 to 22 millimeters in width.
12. The footwear construction of claim 11 wherein said moguls are
approximately from 2.5 to 4 millimeters in thickness.
Description
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates generally to a footwear construction
and, more particularly, to such a construction which provides
increased comfort and support for the foot of the wearer.
Recent efforts to provide footwear for walking which is both
comfortable and anatomically beneficial to the wearer have resulted
in many concepts having varying degrees of effectiveness. Most of
these concepts are merely variations of other concepts which have
been around for years. Historically, there have been a number of
attempts to increase the cushioning and support of footwear by
making modifications to the outsole, insole or midsole. These
attempts have been subject to one or more of the following
disadvantages:
1. They have been complicated in construction;
2. They have been difficult to manufacture;
3. They have been expensive to manufacture;
4. They have not been durable;
5. They have not been sufficiently comfortable; and,
6. They have not provided adequate support and stability for the
foot of the wearer.
The footwear construction of the present invention is not subject
to any of the above listed disadvantages and provides advantages
which have not been achieved in prior footwear constructions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The footwear construction of the present invention comprises an
outsole formed of a suitable flexible and resilient material having
a honeycomb construction in the mid to toe or front portion
thereof. The honeycomb construction comprises upstanding ribs on
the upper surface of the outsole which extend between a plurality
of spaced, depending protrusions or moguls that provide shock
absorption and draw fresh air into the footwear in a manner to be
more fully explained hereinafter. The heel portion of the outsole
also comprises spaced, depending moguls and may be recessed in the
upper surface thereof to receive therein a plug formed of a
suitable material for superior shock absorption. The outsole also
includes an upstanding rim to provide a recessed area for the
positioning therein of a midsole and a footbed.
The midsole is formed of a suitable material in the front portion
thereof that wicks away moisture, such as felt. A plurality of
spaced holes are provided through the front portion of the midsole
that are generally aligned with some of the moguls in the outsole
for the purpose of providing air flow through the midsole when the
moguls are deformed by the weight and walking action of the wearer.
The rear or heel portion of the midsole is formed of an increased
thickness, laminated construction and has embedded therein for
support an elongated shank or the like formed of steel or another
suitable substantially rigid material. The shank preferably extends
from the heel portion forwardly to a point just behind the ball of
the foot of the wearer such that there will be a rocking action
during walking of the portions of the outsole and midsole adjacent
to the shank.
The footbed is formed of a body member of a relatively soft
material or foam such as polyurethane foam and having a plurality
of upstanding, spaced raised portions or cushioning elements on the
upper surface thereof, and a flexible cover member which surrounds
the body member and extends below and is secured thereto to provide
a unitary construction. The front portion of the footbed is
provided with a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough which
are generally aligned with the holes in the midsole to allow air
flow from the moguls in the outsole, through the midsole and
through the footbed to the foot of the wearer.
The body member of the footbed preferably is formed of a
polyurethane foam that is relatively soft in the nature of foam
used for a mattress, upholstered chair or the like. In a preferred
embodiment, the body member has a thickness of approximately 6
millimeters and the raised cushioning elements thereof are
approximately 6 millimeters in height. The raised cushioning
elements preferably are spaced approximately 10-30 millimeters from
each other. Because of the flexibility, spacing and size of the
raised cushioning elements, they provide enhanced comfort and
support to the foot of the wearer and also are self-adjusting to
the wearer's foot so that it does not slide on the footbed and thus
is very stable when positioned thereon during walking or the
like.
An upper formed of any suitable flexible material is secured to the
outsole in any suitable manner. Preferably, the upper is formed of
an outer layer, a lining of a fabric that wicks away moisture and
suitable padding between the outer layer and the lining. The upper
may be provided with elasticized laces that flex with foot movement
for comfort and support.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the footwear construction of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the
footwear construction of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the footbed of the footwear
construction;
FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the footbed of the footwear
construction;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the midsole of the footwear
construction, with parts broken away;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the outsole of the footwear
construction;
FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the outsole of the footwear
construction;
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the outsole of the footwear
construction; and
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the footbed of the footwear
construction taken substantially along line 9--9 in FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the new and improved footwear
construction 10 of the present invention generally comprises an
upper 12, a footbed 14, a midsole 16 and an outsole 18 which are
secured together in any suitable manner such as by a suitable
adhesive or the like.
The upper 12 may be formed of an outer layer 20 of any suitable
flexible material such as leather or a synthetic material, and a
lining 22 formed of a suitable fabric that serves to wick moisture
away from the foot of the wearer. For additional softness and
comfort, a padding of any suitable material may be provided between
the outer layer 20 and lining 22. For additional comfort and
support, the upper may be provided with elasticized laces 24 that
flex with foot movement.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6-8, the outsole 18 is formed or molded of
a suitable flexible and resilient material, such as polyurethane,
and is of a honeycomb construction with upstanding ribs 26 on the
upper surface thereof extending generally from the arch portion to
the toe portion thereof. The ribs 26 extend between a plurality of
spaced, depending protrusions or moguls 28 that provide shock
absorption and draw fresh air into the footwear in a manner to be
more fully explained hereinafter. The moguls 28 may be of any
suitable size, shape, depth and spacing. As an illustrative
example, the moguls are generally circular or elliptical in shape,
have a width or diameter or approximately from 15 to 22
millimeters, are approximately from 4 to 12 millimeters in depth,
are spaced approximately from 15 to 36 millimeters from each other,
and are approximately from 2.5 to 4 millimeters in thickness.
The heel portion of the outsole 18 also comprises spaced, depending
moguls 30 of any suitable size, shape, depth and configuration,
which may be the same as or similar to the moguls 28. A recess 32
is provided in the upper surface of the outsole heel portion to
receive therein a plug 34 formed of any suitable material for
superior shock absorption in the heel area. In another embodiment,
the plug 34 could be provided in a recess (not shown) in the heel
portion of the midsole 16.
The outsole 18 also includes an arch portion 35 and an upstanding
rim 36 of any suitable or desired size and shape which provides a
recessed area for the positioning therein of the midsole 16 the
footbed 14 and the lower portion of the upper 12.
The midsole 16 is formed of any suitable material, such as felt, in
the front portion 38 thereof that serves to wick away moisture. A
plurality of spaced holes 40 are provided through the front portion
38 of the midsole 16 that are generally aligned with some or all of
the moguls 28 in the outsole 18 for the purpose of providing air
flow through the midsole 16 when the moguls are deformed by the
weight and walking action of the wearer. The rear or heel portion
42 of the midsole 16 is formed of an increased thickness, laminated
construction that is secured to the front portion 38 in any
suitable manner, such as by a suitable adhesive. As an illustrative
example, the heel portion may be formed of thin outer layers 44 of
a suitable material such as cotton, cellulose, and a thicker inner
layer 46 formed of a suitable material such as paper. Preferably, a
reinforcing member 48, such as a shank formed of steel or another
substantially rigid material is embedded or provided in the inner
layer 46 of the heel portion 42 and extends longitudinally
substantially from the rear of the heel portion 42 forwardly to a
point near the joint between the front portion 38 and heel portion
42 just behind the ball of the foot of the wearer. The reinforcing
member 48 provides additional support in the heel and arch areas
such that there will be a rocking action during walking of the
portions of the outsole and midsole adjacent to the reinforcing
member.
The footbed 14 comprises a body member 50 preferably formed of a
soft flexible and resilient material or foam such as polyurethane
foam that is relatively soft in the nature of the foam used for
mattresses, upholstered furniture or the like. As shown in FIGS. 2
and 9, the body member 50 comprises a plurality of raised portions
or cushioning elements 52 of generally curved shape on the upper
surface thereof. Preferably, the body member is approximately 6
millimeters in thickness and the raised cushioning elements 52 are
approximately 6 millimeters in height above the upper surface of
the body member. Also, the raised cushioning elements 52 are
substantially uniformly spaced on the body member 50 at a distance
of approximately 10-30 millimeters from each other.
The footbed 14 further comprises a cover member 54 formed of any
suitable flexible material such as leather and of any suitable
construction. The cover member 54 may be provided with a plurality
of small perforations therethrough for the purpose of enhancing the
breathability thereof. The cover member 54 surrounds and conforms
generally to the shape of the body member 50, and extends beneath
and is secured to the lower surface of the body member in any
suitable manner, such as by suitable adhesive.
The footbed 14 is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 56
in the front portion thereof that extend through the cover member
54 and the body member 50. The apertures 56 are generally aligned
with some or all of the holes 40 in the midsole 16 to allow air
flow from the moguls 28 in the outsole 18, through the midsole 16
and through the footbed 14 to the foot of the wearer.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the assembly of the footwear
construction 10, the upper 12 extends around the midsole 16 and is
secured to the midsole and to the outsole 18 in any suitable
manner, such as by a suitable adhesive. The midsole 16 is secured
to the outsole 18 in any suitable manner, such as by a suitable
adhesive, and the footbed 14 is secured to the midsole 16 in any
suitable manner, such as by a suitable adhesive.
It will be readily seen that the footwear construction 10 of the
present invention, because of its unique construction, provides
enhanced anatomical support, stability and comfort for the foot of
the wearer and is an ideal walking shoe.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is
presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *